son of God

“For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (NIV) John 12:49-50

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.” (NIV) John 8:42

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (NIV) John 5:19

Prior to Christ’s birth, God spoke “through the prophets at many times and in various ways,” (Hebrews 1:1). But, it was through Jesus incarnation that we see the exact representation of God’s being (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus knew that His Father “had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God” (John 13:3). And now with the physical presence of Jesus removed from the earth, WE, as Christians, are called to complete Christ’s mission. . . to continue to reveal God to the world.

Are you doing the will of the One (God) who has sent you? Are you speaking what the Father tells you to say? or are you words of your own choosing? Are you doing what Jesus would do if He were in your shoes? How are you representing God? What does your life reveal about God? Throughout today remember that you are the living representative of the Almighty God for those around you!

Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. (NIV) Hebrews 5:1

The word, priest, communicates the idea of standing up for another (Deuteronomy 10:8) or spiritually speaking, being the mediator between God and man (Hebrews 5:1). Christ is the mediator for all believers (Hebrews 9:15, 12:24). Ideally, a mediator should share in the natures of both of the parties that are involved. In Christ’s case, He needed to have both divine and human natures; thus, the importance of Christ’s humanity. If Christ had not become an actual man, He could not have sincerely represented mankind.

The Divinity of Christ

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (NIV) Hebrews 1:3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV) John 1:1

The Humanity of Christ

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death– that is, the devil– (NIV) Hebrews 2:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (NIV) John 1:14

Jesus Christ is the perfect mediator of the new covenant. . . perfectly representing God and man.

Paul was chosen by God. Jesus told him that he was appointed “as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:16-18).

Once his sight is restored, Paul begins to preach. He doesn’t wait. What does he preach? Everything that he had previously stood against:

…that Jesus was the Son of God, the anointed King of Israel
…that Christ was the true representative of God and God’s chosen Son
…that He was the Son who was perfect in obedience, the ultimate revealer of God, and the authorized agent for God

Paul accepted the claims of Jesus and the church, the very thing he had sought to destroy. Saul suddenly shifted his loyalties from Gamaliel and the Law and it baffled those who heard him. This was the man who had raised havoc in Jerusalem. He came to Damascus to take prisoners back. They were baffled as Paul stood there proving that Jesus was the Christ. Paul had come to kill…he had come presenting letters of authority and demanding the extradition of the followers of the Way. He came as a man with a commission issued by the high priest’s authority.Â He left as a messenger of a higher authority, THE AUTHORITY…of life. He left Damascus filled with the Spirit…filled with words of power and life.

But, along with his calling came suffering. He was imprisoned, beaten, exposed to death again and again. He was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked, in danger on rivers…from bandits…from his own countrymen…from his enemies. He went without sleep, left in the cold and naked. He knew hunger and thirst. He learned what it meant to suffer! Was it worth it to Paul? He wrote near the end of His life: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). It was all worth it to Paul…is it worth it to you to lose everything in order to gain Christ?

Christmas reminds us that God is the ultimate re-arranger of lives. God radically rearranged Mary’s life when the angel, Gabriel, visited her. She probably was just entering her teen years. She was looking forward to marriage, to settling down, and to having children with Joseph. But, God had even greater plans for her. Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. “So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

Despite her potential fears, Mary was willing to accept the scorn of an accusatory society and an unbelieving nation. She knew that the penalty for an unmarried, pregnant woman in her culture was to be stoned to death. But, she allowed God to rearrange her life because she grasped the purposes and promises of God. Mary was full of faith, faith in the Mighty One who had done great things for her!

But, the greatest rearrangement of a life is seen in the birth of Jesus. The long-awaited day had finally arrived. The anticipation was high. The angels in heaven surrounding the throne stand in holy awe, for the time had come! Jesus, their beloved Creator, the One who created the angels is about to veil His glory, God’s radiance, and take on human form. Incredibly, the Creator would take on the form of a creature!

An angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds and said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:9-12) Greatest of all surprises, the Messiah came as a baby! This long-expected Messiah was now cradled in a manger in Bethlehem. The angels suddenly broke out in praise saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

Their adulation is fitting. In Christ’s birth the incomprehensible happened. The glorious Son of God forsook His splendor in heaven to become one hundred percent human, just as we are. He began His life as a baby. He was born into humble surroundings, completely dependent upon Mary and Joseph. He came down from heaven not to do His own will but to do the will of the Father who sent Him. And that baby grew up and lived out God’s purpose before returning to His Father. “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus voluntarily allowed the Father to rearrange His “life” and He entered into our world. He did so to become our Savior.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you experience the peace which transcends all understanding…peace from Jesus Himself, the One who is, who was and who is to come. May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace this Christmas as you trust in Him. May the Prince of Peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. Join me this Christmas season in worshiping our Mighty King, Jesus Christ!